This year I've been invited to do not one but TWO Springtime shows (both in April) so I'm already working towards having enough cards created for these events.

GUY cards are always requested so I'm wanting to be sure and have a nice selection available.

That is what I have to share with you today.

I decided to use the same image (from Pinterest) and design on all three cards but personalized one for Dad, one for Brother and one generic birthday card fitting for any man/boy.
The inside verse is the also the same on all three cards.

I have a few other masculine type images that I think I might do the same thing with. By doing this I can increase my selection quickly and I think people will like the 'personalized' versions. Time will tell! LOL!

The 'wording' dies are all from Cheery Lynn Designs and purchased at the Dies R Us Store.

Friday, January 30, 2015

So, today I have a sweet creation to share using Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps images. You can view all the Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps available HERE and the two I worked from today are the Altered Fairies and Love Mail Creative Scrap sheets.

There are so many wonderful images available on these creative scrap sheets that I really had a hard time choosing what to use and what not to use.

At first I had a variety of images collaged through my Spellbinder Fancy Lattice background die panel then decided to keep it more 'clean and simple'.

Thanks for stopping by today and please remember to come join in our Monthly Linky Party/Challenge the first Monday of each Month over on our Crafty Secrets Blog. If you don't have any Crafty Secrets products in your stash to use in order to play along, we will be giving a free image each month that you can use to join in the fun. Check it out!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Today I have a card to share using the sketch from the current sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers (must be a member to see challenges) and the theme of 'V for Valentines' (+ butterfly) for the new challenge at the Butterfly Challenge Blog. I'm thrilled to say the card I created for the previous challenge at the Butterfly Challenge Blog was chosen as one of the Top 3 ... how cool is that! Thanks ladies!

I have truly been enjoying working with a few sketch challenges lately.

When I'm stumped or the mojo is 'not so good' ... all I need to do is look through a few sketch challenges and the creative juices start flowing. I have always found this to be a good 'starting' point for me when I'm stumped ... give it a try the next time you are struggling on 'where to begin'!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

If you live in an area as I do, where you typically get more than your share of cold, snowy days during the winter months, then you are probably like me and anxious for Spring! LOL!
But as I type this I can look out my window and see a beautiful new layer of the white stuff that we received over the past weekend! Guess I'll have to be content with it's beauty and just 'keep crafting'. A good excuse to hide out in my 'cave' ... lol!

Isn't this Graphic45 image fabulous!

Her face kind of reminds me of 'Princess Diana' ... the eyes I think!

You can almost feel the cold winds blowing around her.

I hope you'll pop over to The Sisterhood and check out the wonderful, snowy inspiration samples my 'Sistahs' have created for you. Then of course we'd love to have you come join in our fun challenges. If you would like to be a guest designer at The Sisterhood of Crafters, all you need to do is add "SS" after your name when entering our challenges. And YOU could be chosen as a monthly guest designer (what we call our Step Sister) sometime over the next few months.

This Spellbinder die set comes with three little addition dies to add as embellishments to you card ... hearts, butterflies and flowers. All the appropriate 'extra touches' for a love card.

I wanted to add just a little 'something' to the inside of my card and, when I was die cutting the hearts to add to my card front I noticed how nicely they were embossed around the cut. SO, I decided to die cut the top corner of my inside panel ... perfect!

You'll want to be sure to stop over at the Dies R Us Store for all your upcoming card creations! We have an amazing list of die companies to choose your dies from and the shipping rates are exceptional.

I'm thrilled to tell you that I was the winner over there last week in the 'Baby It's Cold Outside' challenge and just couldn't wait to join in their fun challenge again this week. Sadly I've been so busy with our bathroom remodeling project that I'm JUST NOW getting around to playing. Whew ... just getting in under the wire! LOL!

I've been seeing SO MANY snowmen being built in the front yards around my neighborhood this year ... brings back many wonderful childhood memories!

Like I said ... this was a quickly made card but I really like how it came together.

I can never have enough birthday cards in my stash and since I was short on time getting a card created (crafting time being taken up with remodeling/painting our downstairs bathroom) these fabulous bird images are perfect to make a person smile on their birthday!

Going to be a short post this morning!

A good friend who unfortunately lost her husband has asked me to share the day with her on this 2nd anniversary of his death. So we are going to go do a little shopping, have lunch out and who knows what else! Just want to help her get through the day however I can.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

As my title suggests, my Mom is having a birthday (on the 27th) and she will be a very young 85 years old. It's hard for me to imagine my mom is this age since I have trouble keeping up with her, lol! She's so busy working 2 jobs, singing, dancing. Yep ... she's a go getter!!

So today's card was created with her in mind.

It's Mojo Monday time and I've been enjoying creating for a few fun sketch challenge blogs since the new year began. I must say it has really made me get out of my slump and think outside the box. LOVE THAT!!! Anyways, this week's sketch at the Mojo Monday Challenge is ...

And here is my card ...

(inside)

I am just loving some of the images I'm finding online such as the one I've used on today's card. My mother loves the vintage/Victorian design so I think this image will be perfect. Even though the image was square, I printed it a little larger so I could die cut it using the Spellbinder 'Lacey Circles'. And, I thought the paper doily was perfect for this image also.

Do you enjoy working with sketches?
Well the Mojo Monday sketches are always a fun way to begin. Give it a try why don't you!

Even though it's getting close to Valentine's Day and we are all concentrating on making those 'loving' creations, I know there are some people who actually choose that date for their wedding day so I felt an Anniversary card was in order.

The 'heart' and the 'cupid' have been die cut twice ... once in white and once in red.

After using E6000 Spray Adhesive to attach my heart die cut to a lighter red panel, I filled in the full hearts with those die cut from the deeper red paper. A white Gelly Roll pen was used to add the outline dots. For the cupid I offset the white cupid atop the red cupid to give the illusion of a shadow then popped it up with dimensional tape. I love how this came together!

Remember to come join in our challenge fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.
Our current challenge is to use your die cuts along with an EMBOSSING
FOLDER (which I have actually done on my card today). Hope to see you
there!!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous remainder of your week!

Monday, January 19, 2015

It's another COLD day here in NE Ohio but I shouldn't complain, this time last week was about 30 degrees LOWER than today! Brrrr!

I shared these photos over on my FB page over the weekend but wanted to share them here as well. Hubby and I are in the routine of going out to breakfast early on the weekends then doing our grocery shopping. Well, last weekend when we visited a new grocery in the area, (temperatures were in the single digits) I was thrilled to see these beautiful ice carvings on display outside the store with the characters from the Disney movie FROZEN. Aren't they splendid ... such talent.

This past weekend was a bit warmer so needless to say they weren't as 'exquisite' as they were the weekend before when I snapped these photos with my phone.

I knew ABOUT the movie but hadn't seen it ... until this week. Our neighbor lent us their copy over the holidays and after seeing the carvings we decided to watch it. LOVE the characters in all the Disney movies ... don't you!

I discovered these free images of Elsa online and decided to make a couple birthday cards. Though difficult to see, there is sparkle on the snowflakes as well as the snowflakes in Elsa's hair.

Splitcoaststampers

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